AMSHINOV- no quarter asked,no quarter given

Think of me as perpetual Shil'shel Peh

Friday, August 12, 2005

Shabus Kodesh

Walter Sobchak: I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos!Donny: What's Shabbos?Walter Sobchak: Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't get in a car, I don't ride in a car, I don't pick up the phone, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit, don't fucking roll! Shomer shabbos!

עַל חוֹמתַיִךְ יְרוּשָׁלַם הִפְקַדְתִּי שׁמְרִים

From the time of Bar Kochba (135CE) until the current era there was no major effort to regain the Land of Israel as a Jewish homeland. Jews and even sometimes substantial groups of Jews found their way back. But were always living under foreign masters - Byzantines, Crusaders, Arabs, Mamelukes, Ottomans and British etc. In the sixteenth century many refugees from the expulsions from Spain and Portugal came. In that century, Don Joseph Naxos, a wealthy converso Jew and the nephew of the great Jewish woman, Dona Gracia Beatrice Mendez, even gained legal control over the city of Tiberias. In the 19th century the disciples of the Gaon and of the Chasidic Rebbas , began to immigrate to Israel. Towards the end of that century organizations such as Chovevei Tzion were created.Great personalities - Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv) of Volozyhin , Rabbi Shmuel Mohilever of Byalistok, Baron Edmond De Rothschild of France, Dr. Leo Pinsker of Russia (secularist) joined forces. This sunday look forward, while recalling our past and strengthen ourselves in our just and holy cause.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Damn those meddling kids

LONDON - Do chuggers bother you when you want to rock up to a restaurant with your cockapoo to hoover a supersized ruby murray? Confused? Then you need to refer to the new Oxford Dictionary of English to understand a host of new words that appear for the first time in its latest edition. Many of the new words are simply formed by mixing two others together, such as charity and mugger making "chugger" (someone who approaches passers-by in the street asking for donations for a charity) and "labradoodle" (a cross between a Labrador retriever and a poodle). (Reuters)

Dr. WC Minor (June 1834 – March 26, 1920)

I read a book on the making of the Oxford dictionary where helpers, like Dr. W.C. Minor, provided thousands of word entries to the editors of Oxford English Dictionary .The editors of the OED had put out a call for "men of letters" for help , hundreds of responses came forth. But Minor, a Civil War veteran, was actually a certified lunatic, who turned in his dictionary entries from a criminal lunatic ward.Minor's condition was so bad that in 1902 he cut off his own male appendage. So I quess little ,if anything is new at the OED.

From 1825-1855, Russian Jews were subjected to laws during the regime of Czar Nikolai I. The harshest of these was the "Cantonist" where Jewish boys from the age of 8, were required to serve in the Czar's army for a period of 25 years amounting to a literal death sentence for many of these children.

From: The Occident and American Jewish Advocate, January 1863.

The accession of the emperor now reigning [Czar Alexander II] held out reasonable hopes that the time of Egyptian bondage would soon pass away... The most cruel atrocities then yet practiced were:The recruiting of infants, in the literal sense of the word. The fact is that there existed an Ukase, according to which the Jews had to furnish four times as many recruits for the army as all other Russian subjects, the whole country being divided into western and eastern parts, and every decree for recruiting requiring only five per 1000, the east and the west alternately every year to complete the army. But the Jews, on the other hand, were required to supply recruits annually and simultaneously with the east and the west, although in the east there are no Jewish inhabitants, and moreover, they were compelled to give ten per 1000 every time, instead of the other's five per 1000. This system of decimation produced the natural consequences: after a lapse of some years--during which not one of the soldiers could return to his family, the Russian military service covering a period of 20 to 25 years--almost all the young men had been drafted away for the army, and there only remained aged men and children. Yet the government was not inclined to release the victims. It issued orders that the boys should be taken away from their homes and families, and should be brought up in the interior of Russia during all the time that would elapse till their attaining the proper age for entering a regiment (eighteen years being the proper age for that purpose), and then only began for them the period of regular military service, all the previous years not being reckoned as belonging to it. those wretched children, driven to baptism by fire and water ..., ordinarily wasted away to one-half their number before attaining the age required, and almost every day the synagogue resounded, before day-break, with the melancholy reading of the martyrs' prayers for one poor child or another, who had preferred submitting to all imaginable tortures rather than betray his religion...Ten years afterwards, in 1855, some of those unfortunate boys happening to be brought to St. Petersburg, called upon the head of the congregation, and asked permission to pray with the members on the Day of Atonement, although they were baptized, since their conversion had been effected against their own free will--and on this occasion we heard of scenes which would drive all of us to madness. The atrocity with which the fulfillers of the "good intentions" of the government, paved hell by these defenseless children, can only be called diabolical. Out of the straps of their tefillin, whips were twisted for flogging the unhappy boys into baptism, for their instructors looked forward to receiving a decoration in reward for having "saved" so many souls. They were driven into the hot Russian baths, where they fainted from the heat, and from there back into ice-holes on the river, until their "stiff-necked stubbornness" was broken. Many preferred drowning themselves, and never reappeared from below the ice crust; but those of amore tender age were crushed and baptized...

The last awful scene connected with that system of recruiting children, took place at Orel, when one winter's night more than a hundred little boys were taken to town on sledges, but on taking them out they were found to be frozen to death, like poultry carried to market

Abraham Lewin, the author of a book in Yiddish entitled, Kantonisten, (Cantonists) relates an incident on Yom Kippur involving a Cantonist in an unnamed Russian city.The soldier of Czar Nicholas made his way to the front of the synagogue. Having forgotten almost all the religious training he had received as a child, including the ability to read Hebrew, he could not recite, nor lead, Ne'ilah. However, he expressed a powerful prayer from his heart. He proclaimed, "Father in Heaven, what should I pray for? I can not pray for children for I never got married and have no hope to raise a family for I am too old to start anew. I can't pray for life, for what value is such a life? It would be better for me if I died. I can not pray to be able to make a living since Nicholas provides for my daily food. The only thing I can pray is, 'Yisgadal VeYiskadash Shmei Rabah' meaning "May Your name be blessed forever" (from the Mourner's Kaddish).

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

On Friday morning, the day of the outbreak in Jerusalem, the Jews of Hebron were already alarmed. The day before, Aref el-Aref, Arab Governor of Be'ersheva, had been in the City and had preached in the Mosque (Ha' Machpelah). His words were repeated to the Jews; in the midst of open incitement to riot recurred those familiar and sinister words: ``The Government is with us!''

The visit of Aref el-Aref to Hebron on Thursday bore very early fruit. On Friday morning the Jews of Hebron received, from an Arab source, the news that the Arabs were arming. Rabbi Ya'acov Slonim, head of the Sephardic Jewish community, and Rabbi Frank, head of the Ashkenazic community, turned to the Arab Governor of Hebron, Abdullah Kardos. The Governor calmed us and said: ``There is no fear of anything happening. The British Government knows what it has to do. In the place where two soldiers are needed, it sends six.'' And he added: ``I tell you in confidence that they have many soldiers in the streets, in civilian clothes; these soldiers circulate among the crowds, and in the hour of need they will fulfill their duty.''

On Friday afternoon, an Arab mob broke into the Yeshiva, and killed the only student who had remained there - Samuel Rozenholtz, known among the Jews of Hebron as a matmid, a name given to those who distinguish themselves by their devotion to study. On Saturday morning, before the slaughter began, the Rabbis again appealed to the Governor for help. Again they received the same astounding assurances. Bewildered, they turned to Mr. Cafferata, the British officer in charge of the Police. From him, too, they received assurances of safety. I find such difficulty in believing this story, that I have looked at every record of eyewitnesses, without finding a contradiction.

For two hours on the morning of Saturday, August 24, there raged in Hebron a scene which is not easy to parallel even in the medieval annals of the Jewish people. For two hours neither the Governor of Hebron nor the British officer interfered.

Agent Orange

Last night the Israeli goverment issued two letters to Gush Katif leaders of every community. According to media reports, the community leaders refused to deliver them to Gush Katif residentsthe Letters in their original form. Letter from Commander, Southern Command to citizens of the State of Israel, residents of GazaAccording to the law to implement the disengagement program, 2005, and in accordance with decisions of the Israeli government and orders issued by the Prime Minister, your are commanded to evacuate your homes and to leave the area of the Gaza Strip by the end of Tisha b'Av, (14.08.2005) at 12 midnight.At that time the stage of 'voluntary evacuation' will end and all the entrances to Gush Katif will be closed, and entrance to civilians will be forbidden, (excepting solely exit), for from this time, on 14.08.2005, at midnight, remaining in the Gaza Strip will be illegal.

On the 10th of Av, 15.8.2005, security forces will arrive to evict you from your homes and will instruct you to leave the Gaza Strip.

Over the years, the IDF defended the communities in the Gaza area, with a feeling of cooperation, responsibility and national mission.This assignment will also be implemented by us with a feeling of cooperation and understanding of your deep pain.With that, the IDF, as the army of a democratic state, which is subordinate to the law, will implement this mission in full.

From the 12th of Av, 17.08.2005, from one minute after midnight, the stage of forced eviction will begin, when security forces will arrive and evict residents who have chosen to stay and who will force the security forces to confront them, with the goal of fulfilling the law.I am sure that your obligation to the rule of law and responsibility and for the unity of the people will guide your protests.

I pray for the peace of all of us, citizens of Israel and residents of the Gaza Strip, the IDF and the Israeli police.

With honor and admiration,Dan HarelGeneralCommander, Southern Command

2. Eviction Procedures 15-16/8/2005

Following the 9th of Av, when Am Yisrael cries for the destruction of our Temple, and with hope and prayer for its rebuilding, and with faith that, in fact, from within the calamity will sprout the redemption, and from the ruins will blossom the desert, on Sunday night, following the 9th of Av, the Gaza Strip will be closed to Israeli civilians, and of course, no movement between Gaza communities will be permitted, (Gaza communities will be closed and movement between them will be controlled).

On the morning of 15.08.2005, security forces will arrive and deliver eviction orders to your homes.

Residents who choose to leave by midnight, 16.08.2005, will receive assistance, as much as can be provided, in order to ease the organization and departure.

You will be provided with the opportunity to request assistance to pack your houses and belongings, with the help of soldiers and packing companies.

Those who choose to leave during voluntary eviction will be able to depart in their private cars. In addition, those choosing to leave during voluntary eviction will be able to choose the manner in which they will part from their houses (ceremonies, etc.)

The property packed in your houses before 15.08.2005, and during the 15-16.08.2005, will be concentrated in a "room center." The IDF will make efforts to remove all private property without consideration for number of containers or trucks needed. For this you will not be charged more than the amount allocated for moving and reorganization in the disengagement law of 2005.

During the packing of the homes and moving the property into containers, the heads of families will be able to enter and assist in packing the containers.

From 17.08.2005, and afterwards, security forces will arrive and evict the remaining residents. Afterwards, property will be packed by packing companies, at a maximum of 2 containers. Residents leaving after 17.08.2005 will not be given the opportunity to return to their homes and assist in packing, in accordance with the law for implementing the disengagement, and will lose a substantial part of their financial privileges.

To receive additional details, at telephone (972)8-9902666, the office of Southern Command, and (972)8-9927272, Center for moving and information of Home Front command.

With much honor,Guy Tzur Brigadier GeneralHead of OperationsSouthern Command

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

The Abyss of Despair

Yeven Metzulah,the 17th century chronicle depicting Jewish life inRussia and Poland during Chmielnicki Massacres of 1648-49, by Rav Noson Hanover, painfully reveiws the forerunner to the holocaust. Three hundred years before Hitler, Jews in Poland and Ukraine suffered an attack unprecedented in its brutality and scale.In 1648 until 1650s, Ukrainians led by Bohdan Chmielicki waged a revolution against Polish rule. In every town they entered, not only did the Ukrainians attack the Poles, but they massacred all the Jews.Approximately 100,000 jews were killed and nearly 300 Jewish communities were destroyed. Cossack cruelty was so great that many Jews preferred to flee to captivity under Tartars, to be sold as slaves.

The following excerpts describe eyewitness accounts of the atrocities :

In the city of Mogila they slaughtered 800 nobles together with their wives and children as well as 700 Jews, also with wives and children. Some were cut into pieces, others were ordered to dig graves into which Jewish women and children were thrown and buried alive. Jews were given rifles and ordered to kill each other...They surround young women and, as they struggled to escape, cut their clothes from their bodies. Then they performed abominations on them until they died screaming....They arrived... (disguised) as if they had come with the Poles... in order that he open the gates of the fortress... and they succeeded... and they massacred about 6,000 souls in the town... and they drowned several hundreds in the water and by all kinds of cruel torments. In the synagogue, before the Holy Ark, they slaughtered with butchers' knives... after which they destroyed the synagogue and took out all the Torah books... they tore them up... and they laid them out... for men and animals to trample on... they also made sandals of them... and several other garments".Some were skinned alive and their flesh was thrown to the dogs; some had their hands and limbs chapped off and their bodies thrown on the highway to be trampled by wagons and crushed by horses; some had wounds inflicted upon them and were then thrown on the street to die a slow death. They tore open women and then whipped them forcing them to crawl to their deaths.... others were buried alive. The enemy slaughtered infants in their mothers' laps. They were sliced into pieces like fish.... The infants were hung on the breasts of their mothers. Some children were pierced with spears."They ripped up the bellies of pregnant women, took out the unborn children, and flung them in their faces. They tore open the bellies of some of them and placed a living cat within the belly and they left them alive thus, first cutting off their hands so that they should not be able to take the living cat out of the belly ... and there was never an unnatural death in the world that they did not inflict upon them."

In another account from a Rabbi Shabbetai ben Meir HaCohen (the Shach), who survived Gezaras Tach V'Tat:"On the same day 1,500 people were killed in the city of Human in Russia on the Sabbath. The nobles [Cossacks] with whom the wicked mob had again made an alliance chased all the Jews from the city into the fields and vineyards where the villains surrounded them in a circle, stripped them to their skin and ordered them to lie on the ground. The villains spoke to the Jews with friendly and consoling words: 'Why do you want to be killed, strangled and slaughtered like an offering to your God Who poured out His anger upon you without mercy? Would it not be safer for you to worship our gods, our images and crosses and we would form one people which would unite together.' "But the holy and faithful people who so often allowed themselves to be murdered for the sake of the Lord, raised their voices together in almighty in Heaven and cried: 'Hear of Israel the Lord our God, the Holy One and the King of the Universe, we have been murdered for Thy sake so often already. O Lord God of Israel let us remain faithful to Thee.' Afterward they recited the confession of sins and said: 'We are guilty and thus recognize the Divine judgement.' Now the villains turned upon them and there was not one of them who did not fall victim."

Also, Eli Weisel's fictitious work on those years is a tremendously worthwhile read-amshinover lives in amshinov plus or minus a week

Monday, August 08, 2005

A little hesber

The post titledוְאֶבְיוֹן בַּעֲבוּר נַעֲלָיִם"And a poor man (is sold) for shoes"Needs a little explanation,the pasek in Amos ,is not the whole gist.The idea is that the medrash tells us that the Asara Harugei Malchut were killed in some kind of divine justice trade ,for the selling of Yosef by the shevatim for shoes (part of the reason we read their story on days we don't wear shoes, Tisha B'av and Yom Kipper).Their murders and it's justification (as if it could be), is beyond human comprehension, as G-d said "Gezarah He Melifuni", I think my posting is clearer now.